10 New UNESCO World Heritage Sites

A world heritage site is a landmark which is officially recognized by United Nations as being important to Humanity. Every year, the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Committee, chooses a few landmarks around the world to be added to the prestigious list of world heritage sites. Every country promotes their national reserves, archeological sites and historic sites for this highly esteemed program. After a meeting between the members of the World Heritage Committee, some of the new sites are added to the list of world heritage sites.

This year also, the United Nations added 21 new sites to their list of world heritage sites. Today, there is a total of 981 total world heritage site, located around the world in 163 countries. While some of the World Heritage Sites are really difficult to access, some of them are worth a trip. Here is the list of 10 new world heritage sites which are visitor’s paradise.

10.Archeological Site of Philippi

Located at the foot of an acropolis in North Eastern Greece, on the ancient route which linked between Europe and Asia, the archeological site of Philippi, was founded by the Macedonian king Philip II in 356BC. The site of Philippi had a theatre, forum and a temple. Because of its location, later on, it became a very important place for Christianity, and the remains of its basilicas still stand today. The walled city later developed under the name of “Small Rome”, when the Romans annexed the city after the battle of Philippi. It became an important spot for Christianity when Saint Apostle Paul visited the site in 49-50CE, and the remains of the city gives a wonderful testimony of the early establishments of Christianity.

For visiting the archeological site of Philippi, one needs to take a taxi or a bus from Kavala which is a seaport city of Northern Greece.

9.The Architectural Work for Le Corbusier

The French swiss architect again gets in to the spotlight, when this year 17 of his masterpieces in different countries were added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. The creative genius has been leading the modern art movement since World War I. Le Corbusier’s bold drawing was not liked by everybody, but it is considered as of great importance to humanity, and has therefore been added to the World Heritage Site list.

Critics say, that Le Corbusier invented a new architectural language and broke conventions and traditions. Many did not like his architectures, but he was hugely acclaimed. His highly functional buildings were made by iron, glass and concrete.

The countries where the architectures of Le Corbusier are exhibited are, France, Germany, Argentina, Belgium, India, Japan, Switzerland. While France has the most of the architectures with 10 buildings, the other countries has one each.

8.Mistaken Point

Mistaken Point is a fossil site and is located at the south-eastern tip of Newfoundland, in eastern Canada. The ecological site represents the oldest known assemblage of fossils dating back to Ediacaran period (580-560 million years ago). UNESCO classified it as a World Heritage site because, the fossils shed light on some of the secrets of earth, about how it was formed, and about its evolution.

The Mistaken Point of Newfoundland is named under the navigational hazard it poses to the foggy southeastern tip Avalon Peninsula. People often visit this place to see the collection of fossils and the lifeforms of the earth 565 million years ago, surrounded by rugged rigged cliffs and the pounding waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

7.Hubei Shennongjia

The Hubei Shennongjia is located in the Hubei province of central-eastern China. Primarily it is divided in to components, Badong to the west and Laojunshan to the east. The only well preserved subtropical forest ecosystem in the world’s middle latitudes, the Hubei Shennongjia, homes many rare animal species which are highly endangered. The site was well known earlier for collective expeditions for botanic research in the late 19th and 20th centuries.

The site is a galore of unique flora and fauna. With some 5000-plant species, Hubei Shennongjia houses endangered animal species like Chinese Salamander, clouded leopard, snub nosed monkey and the Asian Black bear. For visitors who are trying to visit this ecological reserve, they can avail a flight to Shennongjia Hongping airport from Wuhan, Shanghai or Chongqing.

6.Antigua Naval Dockyard

Located at Antigua’s historic district on the extreme south of the island, the site was used as the naval dockyard of the British Royal Navy up till 1889. The site was made to protect the interest of sugarcane planters while all of Europe was trying to control Eastern Caribbean. The decline of this site was mainly due to the decreasing economic and strategic importance. The site features narrow deep bays which is surrounded by highlands. The dockyard was ideal for repairing ships and also offered shelters from hurricanes.

Today, the Antigua Naval Dockyard has been restored, but it was built by generations of enslaved African labors.

5.Antequera Dolmens site

Located at Malaga province in Southern Spain, the Antequera Dolmens site is explained by UNESCO as one of the most important example of European Megalith’s. A remarkable prehistoric architecture, the Antequera Dolmens site sits just between Atlantic and Mediterranean region, and provides a mash up of architecture that is nowhere to be seen. Hiding in the Andalusian mountain, these burial mounds dates back to the third millennium BC.

As per historic sources, the Dolmens were built by farmers who lived in the valley during 5000 and 2200 BC. The mega dolmens site is also famous for its perfect astronomical positioning.

4.Revillagigedo Archipelago

Located 300 miles off the coast of Baja California in Mexico, the Revillagigedo Archipelago marks the site of four submerged volcanic islands, which about 3.5 million years ago caused an expansion on the ocean floor. The ongoing volcanic activity at this site, makes it very important for geologists to study the changing of Earth’s crust. Revillagigedo Archipelago is also called as “Little Galapagos” in local terms, and is home for abundant of whales, dolphin, sharks and manta rays. While it is also a stopping point for seabirds, it also homes critical habitats of wildlife.

It takes 24 hours to reach the Socorro islands (the inhabited place of Revillagigedo Archipelago) from the southern tip of Baja Peninsula, but many weeklong excursions take place to catch the incredible wildlife of the area.

3.Nalanda Mahavira

Located in the state of Bihar in north eastern India, the Nalanda Mahavira has earned the distinction of being the oldest university in India. The Nalanda Mahavira area display some top-class shrines, stupas and viharas, which are residential buildings for educational purposes. The Nalanda Mahavira is a very important architectural evidence of Buddhism in India. For over 800 years, this fifth century monastery, transmitted university knowledge and help grow Buddhism in India.

The Nalanda Mahavira is connected by Rail, road and air through Rajgir, a city in Bihar. Ancient history tells that; Nalanda was the largest Buddhist monastery in Magadha which later turned to be a Buddhist University.

2.Gorham’s Cave Complex

Considered to be one of the last known locations of Neanderthals in Europe, the Gorham’s Cave Complex, is a natural sea cave in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar on the south coast of Spain. From the cave’s invention, many archeological excavations have taken place, and treasures like stone tools, rock engravings have been found in the caves.

This caves has helped archeologists to understand human evolution and Neanderthals for a span of over 125,000 years. Gorham’s cave complex is not very famous with tourists, but Palladian architecture and barbary macaques make Gibraltar a must visit place.

1.Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape

Zuojiang Huashan Rock Art cultural landscape is located along the Zuojiang river in South China. The spectacular landscape which was formed 200 million years ago, provides beautiful rock art which shows life and ritual of Luoyue people. Some scholars and archeologists also believe that, these paintings date back to fifth century B.C, and depicts scenes from Bronze Drum culture, which was once prevalent across Southern China.

The remoteness of the place preserved the rock paintings for this long. But, the city of Chongzuo provides a good head start for tourists to enjoy the nature of the region.

Sayan Banerjee

Hey, this is Sayan Banerjee. I am an engineering undergrad student, and I love to write on the political and social issues of India. I am also into android development, and love to do that, though, I am still in the learning thing. Have a Research Experience. A movie and a TV series buff, an aspiring photographer, i am a jack of all trades, but master of none.